05/31/2001

U.S. Diving Team Set for Upcoming 2001 Goodwill Games

The U.S. diving team for the upcoming 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia has been selected, it was announced today. The United States is the first country to disclose its entire diving roster for the Games. The three-day competition is slated for Sept. 7-9 and will be broadcast in the United States on Turner Network Television (TNT). The Chandler Aquatic Center, in the heart of Brisbane, Australia, will be the stage for this exciting competition. In addition to the U.S. team, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Great Britain, Mexico, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine will compete for a prize purse of $ 137,000 (USD).

Each team consists of 10 divers, five men and five women. Diving for the men's team are Troy Dumais, 1998 Goodwill Games alumnus and 2000 Olympian (Ventura, Calif.); Tom Davidson (Ambler, Pa.); Jevon Tarantino (Boca Raton, Fla.); Mark Ruiz, 1998 Goodwill Games bronze medalist and 2000 Olympian (Orlando, Fla.); and Kyle Prandi (Strongsville, Ohio). Representing the women's team will be Laura Wilkinson, 1998 Goodwill Games gold medalist and 2000 Olympic gold medalist (Woodlands, Texas); Rachelle Kunkel (West Valley City, Utah); Kimiko Hirai Soldati, 1998 Goodwill Games alumna (Longmont, Colo.); Melanie Panek (Houston, Texas); and Nicole Pohorenec (Winter Springs, Fla).

The competition will consist of 10 events: 1m Springboard (m/w), 3m Springboard (m/w), 10m Platform (m/w), 3m Synchronized (m/w) and the 10m Synchronized (m/w). Between eight and 12 divers will each participate in the 1m, 3m and 10m events, and six pairs will take part in the 3m and 10m synchronized events. The prize purse will be divided among the 12 places in the men's and women's individual events and the six places in the men's and women's synchronized events, with first-place winners receiving the largest sum and the remainder of the prize purse being divided according to placement.

"We are pleased to showcase 100 of the best divers in the world," said Mike Plant, president of Goodwill Games, Inc. "The diving competition will be exciting for both the spectator and the participant because at any moment one single dive could produce a new leader."

In addition to the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, plans have begun for the 2005 Winter Goodwill Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. TNT is the host network for both events. Nine Network Australia will broadcast the 2001 Goodwill Games locally.

The 2001 Goodwill Games, hosted by Brisbane, Australia, will take place August 29-September 9 and will feature 14 sports during 12 days of competition. Along with diving, the Goodwill Games will host an elite field of competitors in athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling (track), figure skating, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, surf lifesaving, swimming, trampoline, triathlon and weightlifting. Goodwill Games, Inc. is a division of Turner Sports, the sports programming and production unit of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

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